Bengaluru man arrested for murder inspired by ‘Drishya’

Bengaluru police have arrested a 30-year-old electrician, Lakshman, for the alleged murder of D Mary, a 50-year-old political worker, in November 2024. The crime was reportedly inspired by the Kannada film Drishya, with efforts made to erase evidence.

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Lakshman, a resident of KHB Colony Quarters in Yelahanka, was in heavy debt after his chicken shop business failed. Allegedly, he targeted Mary for her gold jewelry to ease his financial troubles. On November 27, 2024, Mary’s niece filed a missing person report after she disappeared. Police traced her phone records, leading them to Lakshman, who had been avoiding most contacts except two women with whom he had extramarital affairs.

He was arrested on March 9, 2025, after police learned of his plan to meet one of the women. During questioning, he confessed to cutting off power at Mary’s house and entering under the pretense of fixing it. Once inside, he strangled her with her scarf and stole her jewelry.

With the help of an auto-rickshaw driver, unaware of the crime, he disposed of the body in a dump yard near Kannur. Police recovered skeletal remains from the site. Investigators are also tracking Mary’s missing jewelry, suspecting it was pawned. The case highlights the dangers of real-life crimes inspired by films.